Riser post connecter



Aug. 11, 1936. F, BUDMCK 2,050,559

RISER POST CONNECT ER Filed Feb. 7, 1954 I fiUiZfW filial/i. 13216727/04fl mm q. a??? Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical insulating supportsfor neon and similar types of gas-filled electric lamps, usually oftubular formation, the invention having for an object to provide asimple yet practical form of insulative support or riser post for neonand similar types of electric lamps whereby the usual tubular structureconstituting the lamp casing may be conveniently, quickly, andpositively, yet detachably secured thereto, and when .so secured,prevented from objectionable or undesirable relative movement withrespect to the riser.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter stated, which, through its usage will avoid breakage of tubes,as is so often the case when the tubes are secured to riser posts or toother supports by tie wires engaging about and with the same, dependingfor security of connection upon the twisting together of the free endsof the tie wires, or similar makeshift securing devices.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have inthe accompanying drawing and the detailed description based thereupon,set out several embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a neon type of sign, the lamps ofwhich are secured to riser posts by the use of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction illustrated in theimmediately preceding figure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of a riser post equipped with theinvention;

Figure 4 is a fragmental top plan View of a portion of a neon lamp andsupporting frame therefor, showing said portion of the neon lampprovided with the invention, and mounted upon said supporting frame;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 6 is an elevation taken at substantially right-angles to theFigure 5, along the line 65 of Figure 5, looking in the direction inwhich the arrows point;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in section, showingthe specific manner in which a neon lamp is engaged by the connecting orsecuring clip of the invention;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

I Figure 9 is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of theinvention, and,

Figure 10 is a view taken at substantially right- 5 angles to that ofthe Figure 9, also illustrating said modified form of the invention.

Having more particular reference to the draw ing, in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts 10throughout, l indicates an electricity non-conductive riser post, madeof glass, porcelain or other suitable material, the shank of which maybe and preferably is screw-threaded, as at 2, to permit of its threadingengagement with the '15 spirally formed sleeve of an attaching bracketor fixture 3, of well known construction, the lower end of the attachingfixture being provided with a looped, laterally extended finger 4through which a screw, bolt, or other connection is passed 20 intoengagement with a bar or other element of a supporting structure, suchas designated by the numeral 5, thus forming an effectual and stablesupport.

Of course, it is to be understood that different 5 types of riser postattaching brackets or fixtures may be used in lieu of the type offixture referred to immediately above, without departing from the spiritof my invention.

The normally upper end of the riser post I is 30 preferably slightlyenlarged, as at 5, and formed with a bearing opening 6, the oppositeportions of which are inwardly tapered, as at 6 and through which abearing pin 1 is engaged; the opposite and preferably reduced ends 8 ofthe 35 pin being extended for distances beyond the opposite sides of theriser post I, as is shown in the Figures 3, 6, and 8.

A cradle or saddle 9 is formed upon the outer side or normally upper endof the enlarged por- 40 tion 5 and if desired, the opposite extremitiesof said cradle or saddle may be provided with downwardly extendingfingers i6, whereby a permit of the usage of ordinary tie wires forsecuring the neon tube in the cradle or saddle 9 and to the 45 riser, asis now done, should the same be desired.

With a view toward providing the riser post with means for securing aneon tube II in firm engagement with the riser post cradle or saddle 509, I provide a substantially semi-circular clamp or securing device,generally designated by the numeral l2. Said securing device I2 ispreferably formed of a single length of spring wire of suitable gauge,bent intermediately of its ends, as is shown in the Figures 3 and 4 toprovide semicircular sides I 3, the free extremities of which are loopedor otherwise formed to provide for snug rotatable engagement with theextended extremities 8 of the pivot pin I, whereupon the free ends ofthe pivot pin extremities are swaged or upset, as at It, to preventlateral disengagement of said semi-circular sides is therefrom, and yetallow for relative rotary movement therebetween. In this way, it isobvious that a pivotal connection of the securing device I2 to the riserpost I will be effected. The basal portion of the length of spring wirefrom which the device I2 is formed, 1. e., the free or swingable end ofsaid securing device is preferably outwardly curved, in the mannerindicated by the numeral I5, thus, facilitating the engagement of asuitable implement or the fingers of a users hand thereunder at timeswhen it becomes desirable to disengage the securing device from the tubeII.

By reason of the semi-circular formation of the swingable securingdevice I2 and the forming of the free end of said device in the manneras indicated by the numeral I5, it will be understood that when a tubeII is engaged in the cradle or saddle 9 of the riser post I, saidsecuring device may be satisfactorily moved thereover in a directiontransversely of the same, and that the inherent spring of said deviceI2, with such pivotal movement transversely of the tube I I, will causethe same to clampingly and snugly engage over such tube in a manner tofirmly connect or secure it in its seated position with respect to thecradle 9. Furthermore, because of the fact that the securing device I2is pivotally connected to the riser post I substantially co-incidentallywith the longitudinal axis of said post, it will be readily understoodthat when the spring securing device I2 has once been engagedtransversely over the neon tube I I, such engagement will be maintained,notwithstanding the application of lateral stresses to the tube or tothe securing device; this being primarily occasioned by reason of thecurvature of said securing device and its relation to said co-axialpivoting upon the riser post, as well as its inherent spring qualities.

From the foregoing, it will be understood by workers skilled in the art,that I have provided a type of neon or similar tubular lamp securingmeans for riser posts materially in advance of or better than thecomparatively makeshift types of means heretofore utilized for securingsuch tubular lamps to riser posts, as for example, tie wires which areengaged under the extremities of the saddle 9 of the riser post I, andthen engaged over the tube, whereupon the ends of such tie wires aretwisted together for permanency of connection. Not only am I enabled,through the instrumentalities of the herein described invention, tosecure a more positive and stable connection of neon or similargas-filled tubular lamps to riser posts equipped with the invention, butit is also of importance to note that through the usage of theinvention, a material saving of time and labor is effected, in thatriser posts or other types of supporting devices equipped with theinvention may have the tubular lamps engaged therewith instantly andpositively connected to the same merely by swinging the securing device52 transversely over and into snug clamping and spring engagement withthe tubes.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that the bearing pin "I,received in the opening 6 of the enlarged portion 5 of the riser post,normally seats or engages upon the adjacent extremities of theoppositely tapered portions 6 thus, the pin I is afforded a point ofbearing fulcrum with respect to said bearing opening I3 of the enlargedriser post portion 5. As the result of this particular mode ofengagement and seating of the bearing pin I in the bearing opening 6, itwill be understood that a pivotal or fulcruming movement of the pin willbe allowed and as a consequence of this, that said pin will permit of arocking-like engagement of the securing device I2 with a tube II, hence,allowing the device to automatically compensate or adjust itself withrespect to the tube II, when abnormal stresses are imparted to thelatter, without disturbing or decreasing the efficiency of its clampingengagement with respect to or upon the cradle or saddle 9 of the riserpost I. This automatically compensating mounting of the bearing pin Iwith respect to the riser post is of prime importance in that it willallow for a limited amount of play or movement of a tube I I securedthereby, without detracting from the eificiency of the securingconnection.

At this point, it is of moment to note that if desired, the upper orouter surface of the cradle or saddle 9, instead of being formed plane,may be convexed to an extent such as will permit of rocking engagementof a tube I I, secured upon the device with respect to said saddle andyet, at the same time, maintain a positive seating engagement or contactof such tube II with respect to the cradle or saddle 9, hence, insuringthe maintenance of a firm clamping-like connection of the tube to theriser post.

I desire tohave it understood that whereas I have illustrated anddescribed, with some degree of particularity, the invention as beingadapted to a certain type of riser post, this adaptation may be modifiedor varied, i. e., different types or designs of riser posts or otherattaching or mounting devices may be equipped with the inventionaccording to manufacturing or usage dictates Without departing from thespirit or scope of said invention. Furthermore, I also desire to have itexpressly understood that the type of securing device illustrated in theheretofore described embodiment of the invention may be varied withoutgoing beyondthe province of my invention. For example, a type ofsecuring device, such as illustrated in the Figures 9 and 10 may beutilized. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the securingdevice I2 is formed of a single length of spring wire or similarmaterial bent intermediately of its ends to provide a pivotal or bearingportion I; the opposite sides of said device being semi-circular inshape, corresponding to the sides I3 of the hereinbefore describedsecuring device I2, while the free ends of said semi-circular sides arepreferably bent slightly outwardly, as indicated by the numeral I5 andlipped, so as to render their transversal engagement on a neon orsimilar tube practical. The construction of this modified form of theinvention, it will be noted, substantially corresponds to theconstruction described in connection with the preceding embodiment ofsaid invention, with the exception that the intermediate portion I ofvthe securing device I2 is pivotally or rotatably engaged through thebearing opening 65 of the enlarged portion 5' of the riser post I,hence, dispensing with the need of a separate pivot pin or the like.

Manifestly, the constructions shown are capable of still furthermodifications, and such modification as is within the scope of myclaims, I consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A riser post provided with a seat adjacent one of its ends, theportion of the post in proximity to an intermediate portion of the seathaving a bearing opening formed therein, said hearing opening beinginwardly tapered, in opposite directions, to a point substantiallymedially of the same, a spring clip, a pivot pin engaged in the bearingopening normally contacting with the medial portion of such opening andhaving its outer ends connected to an end of said spring clip, the freeportion of the clip being swingable over said seat whereby to engagewith and to clampingly secure an article resting upon the seat to thesupporting body.

2. A riser post provided with a seat on one of its ends and a bearingopening in the riser post in proximity to the seat, said bearing openinghaving a point of fulcruming engagement therein intermediate of itsopposite ends, a bearing pin received through the bearing openingengageable with said point of fulcruming and a clip pivotally connectedat one end to the opposite ends of the bearing pin and swingable overthe seat to secure an article thereupon, the path of pivotal 10 movementof the clip with respect to said seat being substantially transverselyof the character of movement of said bearing pin within the bearingopening.

FRANK O. BUDNICK.

